September 29, 2016

Page 1

TOP HEADLINES INSIDE:

MSA SPEARHEADS NEW VOTER REGISTRATION PUSH PAGE 4

■ ■ U researcher studies invasive earthworms

THE GROUP IS USING TURBOVOTE TO BOOST REGISTRATION.

■■ New lecture series spotlights female voices

A 16 year study looked at the worm’s American impact. PAGE 7

Six female speakers will be featured through April. PAGE 9

PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 66° LOW 49°

U OF M

MINNEAPOLIS

ST PAUL

LATE WEEK

SEPT. 29 - OCT. 1 2016

ATHLETICS

Drug concerns date back to December Wrestling team admins, coaches and staff were alerted to a drugrelated incident in Dec., months before the U launched investigations. BY JESSIE BEKKER AND BRIAN EDWARDS jbecker@mndaily.com, bedwards@mndaily.com

Evidence suggests a University of Minnesota Athletics Department administrator and several staff members knew of at least one wrestler using and selling drugs as early as December 2015 — about three months before a University internal investigation said the department and wrestling coaches became aware of a drug problem on the team. Senior Associate Athletics Director Marc Ryan sent an email on Dec. 7, 2015

COURT

Ramsey Co. takes over Castile case The County Attorney will now decide whether to charge Officer Yanez who killed Castile in July.

to former wrestling head coach J Robinson, current interim head coach Brandon Eggum, assistant coach Luke Becker and trainer Rich Schlotfeldt alerting them to an unspecified incident possibly requiring further investigation by a University athletics drug and alcohol committee, the University of Minnesota Police Department’s investigation file shows. The files were obtained by the Minnesota Daily through a data request. That same day, an email sent by Ryan suggested he “had known that the unlawful use, sale, or possession of drugs was a u See WRESTLING Page 6

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT MNDAILY.COM

BY KACEY HOLMEN kholmen@mndaily.com

J ROBINSON

SCIENCE

A new hive for bee researchers

The investigation of the officer-involved fatal shooting of Philando Castile has been turned over to prosecutors. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Wednesday that it has given its investigation findings to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office to determine if it will criminally charge the police officer who shot Castile. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi has not yet announced whether his office will make the decision or use a grand jury. The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office posted a “Frequently asked questions” column on the case Wednesday. The office didn’t provide a timeline of when the public can expect a decision. “It is very likely that we will be requesting further investigation from the BCA, as is typical in these types of cases,” the column reads. On July 6, Philando Castile was shot by Jeronimo Yanez, a St. Anthony police officer, during a routine traffic stop in Falcon Heights. His death has spurred multiple rallies and demonstrations across the country. In a statement, the City of Falcon Heights said it was aware the investigation has been turned to Ramsey County. “We are committed to an accountable and thorough review of what has happened. The City stands ready to participate fully in the next steps of ensuring that justice is ser ved and healing can continue,” the statement read.

ADMINISTRATION

Bias Response Team struggles to define role MADDY FOX, DAILY

The newly built University of Minnesota Bee and Pollinator Research Lab located on the St. Paul campus is pictured on Sept. 23. The new lab is set to open on Oct. 29.

After years of cramped research space, a new Bee and Pollinator Research Lab will open in St. Paul next month. BY RYAN FAIRCLOTH rfaircloth@mndaily.com

With a new facility in the works, campus bee scientists are abuzz over prospective research. The nearly $6 million St. Paul campus Bee and Pollinator Research Lab, which opens its doors Oct. 29, will study many different types of bees in hopes of curbing the declining population. The 10,000-square-foot facility — which was two-thirds funded by the state — includes lab space, offices and obser vation hives for multiple types of bees, including

native and honey bees. Marla Spivak, a University entomology professor who studies honey bees, said the old research facility was in bad shape. “Our former facility was run-down, falling apart,” she said. One of the highlights of the facility will be its molecular lab, said Dan Cariveau, an assistant entomology professor who studies native bees. Spivak said the molecular lab will help them focus on the study of bee cells and how viruses affect them. The cells are similar to a human cell line known as HeLa cells, she said, which have

u See BEES Page 3

Despite responding to two dozen incidents since January, concerns of the group’s usefulness persist. BY OLIVIA JOHNSON ojohnson@mndaily.com

Amid ongoing debates about free speech and microaggressions on college campuses, earlier this year, University of Minnesota officials charged a team to deal with incidents of hate speech. Since January, the Bias Response Team has responded to over two dozen incidents — including two in the last month — but members still struggle to define their responsibilities on campus. All the cases they receive, they refer to other groups on campus. Ann Freeman, senior consultant for University Relations and BRT leader, said that the group has solidified its purpose but is still working on pinning down their scope of responsibilities on campus. u See BIAS Page 6

VOLLEYBALL

At Volley Squad, young fans serve sideline support

Colm and Jody Griffin direct a program that pairs school children with Gophers volleyball players. BY TOMMY SLETTEN tsletten@mndaily.com

There are plenty of staples in a Gophers volleyball home match, from the trademark “Point U!” exclamation after a successful Minnesota play to the fan prizes for service aces. There’s another tradition close to the team’s heart that takes place right on the court – the Volley Squad. The Minnesota Volley Squad, a group of 18 third- through eighth-grade girls at every home match, can be found bouncing balls to players, sweeping the floor or toweling damp

areas of the court. The directors of the program are husband and wife, Colm and Jody Griffin. The Griffins became involved eight years ago when their daughter, Caitlin, was in third grade. Jody’s sister, a friend of the former directors, called the Griffins and asked for Caitlin to come to a volleyball match to help out. “My daughter was ecstatic,” said Colm Griffin. “She ended up doing four matches that year, and every match for the next three years.” When the family that previously ran the program stepped down, Colm and Jody wanted to be more involved to ensure that the Volley Squad would continue.. The two have attended every match at the Sports Pavilion u See VOLLEYBALL Page 11

EASTON GREEN, DAILY

A Minnesota Volley Squad girl sits on the side of the court on Friday, Sept. 23 in the Sports Pavillon.

VOLUME 117 ISSUE 8


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September 29, 2016 by The Minnesota Daily - Issuu